NHL, players’ association agree to new 10-year CBA

(Credit: Getty) The NHL and its players’ association have come to terms on a new 10-year CBA

I’m going to go ahead and steal a page out of The Rock’s book. Finally the NHL has come back to Boston. Sorry guys, I had to.

If you’re like me you woke up this morning to tweets, text messages, e-mails, voice mails and whatever other wonderful way of communication there is notifying you that a new CBA has finally—yes finally—been reached.

It all started around 1:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon when Federal Mediator Scot Beckenbaugh got the two sides to once again meet face-to-face with hopes of hammering out a new CBA in sight. More than 16 hours later while most of North America was sound asleep Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr stood side by side to announce that the framework to a new CBA had been reached.

The deal is for 10 years with an opt-out clause for both sides after eight years. The player’s share of hockey-related revenue will drop from 57 percent to a 50-50 share throughout the entire agreement.

The limit for the salary cap for this shortened season will be $60 million, but teams can spend up to $70.2 million which will be all pro-rated. For years two through ten the salary cap limit will be $64.3 million.

Each team will be allowed two amnesty buyouts that can be used after this season and after next season. The buyout will go against the player’s revenue share, but not against the teams salary cap.

The longest a team can sign a player for is seven years, but if a team is signing its own player, that player can be signed for eight years.

It’s still not sure when the season will start due to not knowing when the CBA will be officially signed, but the league has the option of a 50-game season starting January 15, or a 48-game season starting on January 19. All games will be played inside the conference.

The lockout lasted for 113 days, which makes 113 days too many.

Be sure to check in with Bruins Daily throughout the week as we get you ready for the puck to drop on the 2013 season.